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In 2015, I was visiting India on a project field trip when the main news in New Delhi was the spate of farmer suicides occurring on a daily basis. And I was shocked to discover that the farmers were committing suicide because they had harvested a bumper crop of potatoes! The price of potatoes plummeted and many farmers were dumping their potatoes by the side of the road instead of taking them to market in New Delhi. They were then drinking pesticides and killing themselves because they couldn’t repay their debts. Read more.

Though most people might be afraid of a giant crocodile, this particular reptile has always been considered a beloved part of his village. So when he finally passed away of natural causes earlier this week at the age of 130, the village gave him a funeral fit for a king.

It has been almost 200 years since land iguanas were seen on this region of the Galapagos Islands – but thanks to an intensive park restoration project, the reptile has just been reintroduced to its natural habitat once more.

These two beluga whales have been performing for spectators at a water park in China for the last 7 years – but soon, they will be the residents of the world’s first retirement home for oceanic animals in show business.

“We were just returning from the N’wanetsi Picnic spot and this beautiful sighting came along and greeted us. It was a quiet morning and there were no other cars at the time. It was sheer disbelief!

“In the end, my family and I were jumping out of our skin. We were so lucky and thankful that the lions were walking towards us. I pulled over to the side and just let them come to us. My hand was shaking with exhilaration so the video is not perfectly still I’m afraid.

“The sighting ended a few minutes later when a few other cars showed up, and then literally pushed the lions off the road into the bushes.”

From the common barn swallow to the exotic giraffe, thousands of animal species are in precipitous decline, a sign that an irreversible era of mass extinction is underway, new research finds.

The study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, calls the current decline in animal populations a “global epidemic” and part of the “ongoing sixth mass extinction” caused in large measure by human destruction of animal habitats. The previous five extinctions were caused by natural phenomena.

Gerardo Ceballos, a researcher at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City, acknowledged that the study is written in unusually alarming tones for an academic research paper. “It wouldn’t be ethical right now not to speak in this strong language to call attention to the severity of the problem,” he said.

Dr. Ceballos emphasized that he and his co-authors, Paul R. Ehrlich and Rodolfo Dirzo, both professors at Stanford University, are not alarmists, but are using scientific data to back up their assertions that significant population decline and possible mass extinction of species all over the world may be imminent, and that both have been underestimated by many other scientists.

The study’s authors looked at reductions in a species’ range — a result of factors like habitat degradation, pollution and climate change, among others — and extrapolated from that how many populations have been lost or are in decline, a method that they said is used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

[caption id="attachment_1078" align="center" width="680"] A rare white humpback whale was spotted off the coast of Gisborne. Expert Ingrid Visser says it is likely Migaloo, a white humpback known to frequent Australian waters.[/caption]

A white humpback whale sighted off the coast of the North Island is a significant find, according to whale biologist and expert Dr Ingrid Visser.

It is likely the whale is Migaloo, a famous white humpback found in Australian waters, or the first sighting of a new white whale, both extremely rare finds.

Commercial cray fisher Joshua Whitley was out casting pots about 16km off the coast of Gisborne when he noticed something strange near the boat.

“I just happened to look up and see a whale spout. We decided to go over and have a look.”

Upon approach Whitley noticed something wasn’t quite right with one of the whales – “It was completely white”.

WORCESTER — Hoping to give his mother something pleasant to look at off her balcony at Plantation Towers, Bill Chappell set up a bird feeder and spread some seeds on the ground in a garden space near the parking lot.

He got a lot of birds, but he also attracted a couple of nature’s oddities. “I put out the seeds, and I was out watching birds, when I noticed something white,” he said. “It was an albino chipmunk.”

As it turns out, there are two. A second white chipmunk was seen a few days later, also dining beneath the feeder.

A new white bison from Shirek Buffalo Ranch was quick to get out into the summer pasture where the bison herd overseen by the National Buffalo Museum roams each day.

“She got out of there (the trailer in which she was transported) so fast, it was like a shot,” said Ilana Xinos, National Buffalo Museum executive director. Xinos said the museum is trying the year-old bison cow out on a trial basis with the herd. “We’ll see how things go, sometimes it takes a little time for the herd to adjust to a new face,” she said.

Baby bison born in Hays; more calves expected

The city of Hays welcomed two baby bison to its herd last week at Frontier Park.

Jeff Boyle, director of the city’s parks department, said the bison’s keeper thinks all five of the cows in the herd will likely have calves this season, including the herd’s white bison, sometimes referred to as Ghostbuster.

The bull in the herd does not exhibit any albino traits, so it is unknown if Ghostbuster would have a white or brown calf.

[caption id="attachment_1007" align="alignleft" width="540"]Photo courtesy of Trent Zimmerman.[/caption]Just moments after finding the only morel of the day near a cluster of elm trees, Zimmerman and Maggie walked a few steps and surveyed the forested landscape.

Twenty yards ahead stood a tiny four-legged form shining like a full moon in the shaded woods: a white deer fawn.

The deer locked eyes with what were likely the first human and dog it had seen in its young life.

“We just sort of pulled up in shock,” said Zimmerman, 38. “What a sight.”

The fawn was standing, Zimmerman said, but didn’t try to run.

The fawn tottered on its spindly legs as Maggie, a 1-year-old Labrador retriever, walked over to investigate. Zimmerman can be heard on the video telling his dog to back off, an order to which Maggie promptly complied.

As with all young wildlife, it’s important to leave fawns where they are found. An adult is likely near and will return soon. Female deer will leave their offspring in grassy or brushy areas and return several times a day to feed them. The process continues until the fawns are strong enough to run and follow the doe.

[caption id="attachment_982" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Charlie Russell in an undated photograph with a young grizzly bear at a lake on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Credit: Maureen Enns Studio Ltd.[/caption]

Charlie Russell, a Canadian naturalist who researched grizzly bears by living among them and argued for a view of the animals based on coexistence rather than fear, died on May 7 in Calgary, Alberta. He was 76.

The cause was complications after surgery, his brother Gordon said.

Mr. Russell was outspoken in his belief that the view most people — including many of his fellow naturalists — held of the bear was wrong.

“I believe that it’s an intelligent, social animal that is completely misunderstood,” he said in a PBS “Nature” documentary about his work. To prove the point, he and his partner at the time, Maureen Enns, a photographer and artist, spent months each year for a decade living among bears in a remote part of eastern Russia.

Hosts Tim Beckley and Tim Swartz welcome J. Zohara Meyerhoff Hieronimus who explores the powers and wisdom of sacred White Spirit Animals. Says the author: ” Beautiful rarities of nature, all-white animals are held sacred by many indigenous cultures and offer deep wisdom to all who will listen. In addition to the White Buffalo, there are other revered white animals, such as the White Wolf, White Lion, White Elephant, and White Bear. Each of these White Spirit Animals belongs to a species at the apex of their ecosystem, meaning the environment in which they live will unravel without them. Speaking through ancient and modern prophecy and the many humans who communicate with them, these White Spirit Animals are urgently calling to humanity to restore balance and protect our animal kin, ourselves, and the earth”.

This book explores the author’s journey and relationship with several White Spirit Animals; namely the Bear, Lion, Elephant, Wolf and Buffalo and is based on both her own Shamanic and Telepathic dreaming and conversations, as well as numerous interviews with animal conservation enthusiasts and professionals in order to give a vibrant picture of these animal ambassadors. These shamanic animals who have been considered by many indigenous peoples to be great teachers and wisdom keepers and who, for thousands of years, have provided a sacred link between the mundane and spirit worlds.

It is the author’s assertion that these animals carry a message of, to use her own phrase, Conservation, Preservation and Restoration (or C.P.R.) for the Earth and that trans-species communication can be used to learn the lessons they have to offer.

Being the caretaker of two very old dogs means frequent visits to the pet-supply store, but I don’t take my geriatric companions with me when I shop. In their sore, deaf, rickety old age, they are made anxious by the bounding puppies in the store’s cavernous fluorescence. For my dogs, a pet supermarket is a chamber of tortures.

And not just for them. I recently crossed the main aisle just as a big man pushing a stroller was coming the other way. The screen covering the stroller was zipped, and the animal inside had scooted back as far as it could, so I caught only a glimpse. “That dog looks just like a fox,” I said.

“It is a fox,” the man said.

I squatted for a closer look. The creature inside drew back, but I could see it well enough to know it truly was a fox.

The Maiden, Mother, and Crone of Green Egg bringing aspects of the magazine to life on the Pagan Musings Podcast, you can find their live shows on alternating Saturdays.

Zoh has been called a visionary and futurist and is as well, a trans-species telepath who communicates with animals both wild and domestic. Zohara is well known for her participation in consciousness studies, the spiritual science of self mastery as described in kabbalah, and is a broadcasting personality hosting numerous radio shows over the past 30 years.

Life on the Summit: Hey, Spike! writes on Graybills and white bison

It was two rare white wildlife species — a red-tailed hawk in the San Luis Valley and a bison in Park County — that brought about this week’s column.

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Knowing Native American folklore about the spirituality of albino-like creatures piqued Coleen’s interest.

“I photographed both the white bison and the leucistic (white) red-tailed hawk at the end of February to mid-March. I have a thing for spirit animals, and especially animal totems not usually seen as white. They bring a deep spiritual meaning with them. I was very excited about the hawk and how unusual the sighting was,” she says.

“I have seen up to three white bison at the same time there, but never had my camera with or they were too far out in the field to photograph well,” Coleen notes. “We photographed there again just a couple days ago on our way to Colorado Springs. We will be working up a couple of new images this week.”

Hidden near Hartsel, a spectral rare white buffalo

My husband Steve and I were driving to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument when we spotted a full-grown white buffalo grazing in a field just west of the South Park hamlet of Hartsel.

Full disclosure: I couldn’t find any information about this particular creature, one of a small herd of standard, chocolate-brown-furred bison, so I’m going to speculate. Its eyes were dark, meaning it probably wasn’t albino. And since the National Bison Association’s code of ethics prohibits members from deliberately crossbreeding the American bison (Bison bison) with other species, it probably wasn’t a bison-cattle cross.

Dr. Pat and Zohara Hieronimus discussing White Spirit Animals in spiritual traditions and prophecy around the globe, where they are seen as guardians of animal wisdom, each with a special purpose and gift.

In the land where trees are called “growing people” and ancestral spirits are consulted in community decisions, we meet the White Lions of Timbavati, South Africa.

Like indigenous leaders in whose homeland other White Spirit Animals are born, here too, in Africa, Zulu elders teach that there is vital significance in the appearance of the White Lions in Timbavati at this time. As with all the other White Spirit Animals, the White Spirit Lions have come to warn us of dramatic Earth changes, encouraging us to work together in these perilous times. Protecting the Earth, as Lions have protected humans throughout time, is our noble-hearted duty.

Watkins Mind Body Spirit is a quarterly magazine published by Watkins Books in London. Like the famous bookshop, the magazine covers a wide range of subjects from contemporary spirituality to self development and mysticism to Eastern philosophy. Each issue contains specially commissioned author’s articles and interviews, alongside the very latest book releases.

Species Link focuses on our many ways of being in relationship with all animals and our natural environment. To have a vibrant and honest relationship with our animal kin and our ecosystems requires developing greater compassionate action, establishing personal, political and financial will to restore our precious earth. The entire world faces serious challenges we must respond to.

White animals have always been honored by indigenous cultures as great spiritual teachers. As Zohara Meyerhoff puts it, they act as a connection between the physical and the spiritual worlds, reaching out to humanity to restore balance on our planet. Meyerhoff shares sacred lore, science and her own telepathic dream experiences with readers to take a deeper look at White Spirit Animals and their role as the guardians of animal wisdom. She also tells of their importance in opening our hearts and healing the collective consciousness on Earth.

In this week’s episode Zohara Hieronimus speaks with Joanna about: who are the White Spirit Animals; a waking vision with a message from them; trans-species and dream telepathy; a constellation of meaning about Bear; what Buffalo said; an antidote to the human species entitlement; the alchemical teachings of Lion; the sacred purpose of each of the White Spirit Animals; restoring the local soil together; a new way of feeling and being; small acts of love matter

Hear Dr. Paula Joyce and Zohara discussing the White Spirit Animals, Zoh’s process of writing the book through dream communication, trans-species telepathy, and the messages the animals have for all of us.

Supernatural Girlz host Patricia Baker and co-host PK had author Zohara Hieronimus on their show to share her knowledge of White Spirit Animals in spiritual traditions and prophecy from around the globe. All-white animals are held sacred by many indigenous

Sacred White Animals herald both a Blessing and a Warning Apart from the prophesized white Buffalos (which are among the most sacred animals a person could ever encounter), other rare and beautiful white animals have begun to appear the world

Tourists aboard a wildlife cruise in Australia were treated to an incredibly rare sight when they spotted a mature white crocodile swimming in the water.

The ghostly reptile, believed to measure around 10 feet long and given the nickname ‘Pearl,’ was seen on the Adelaide River during an excursion by the Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise.

While the condition is not altogether uncommon in crocodiles, the fact that the creature was able to survive its childhood, when the pale animal would have been particularly vulnerable to predators, is seen as quite remarkable.

Baloo the American black bear (Ursus americanus), Leo the African lion (Panthera leo), and Shere Khan the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris); known as “The BLT” came to Noah’s Ark in 2001 after they were discovered by police officers in a basement of an Atlanta home during a drug raid. At only a few months old, all three cubs were frightened, malnourished, and infected with internal and external parasites when the Georgia Department of Natural Resources brought them to Noah’s Ark.

Baloo the American black bear was in the worst condition of the three cubs rescued with a severely ingrown harness digging into his flesh because it was never loosened as he grew in size. The harness was so ingrown that his flesh had begun to grow over and around it, and surgical intervention was required to remove the harness and clean his deep, infected wounds. During Baloo’s surgery was the only time the three brothers have ever been separated from one another, and Shere Khan the tiger and Leo the lion became extremely agitated because of it, pacing and vocalizing for the lost member of their family to return. After his surgery, Baloo was returned to his brothers and the three have been together ever since, with hardly a quarrel between them. Baloo is a very confident and relaxed bear and will do anything for a sweet treat. American black bears are native to most of North America and vary greatly in both size (the largest recorded was over 800 lbs) and color (can be black, brown or blonde). They are skilled survivors and have a conservation status of “least concerned” despite the increasing number of human/ bear conflicts. Baloo, Leo and Shere Khan eat, sleep, and play together and even seek out grooming and affection from one another, head rubbing and licking each another. Their terrifying early months in life bonded the three together and they are truly inseparable despite their obvious differences.

Last week, news broke that the Trump administration was going to allow hunters to import trophies of elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia back to the United States, reversing the trophy import ban implemented by the Obama administration in 2014.

After a massive public outcry, Trump put the policy on hold, saying he needed to “review all conservation facts.”

Trump’s flip-flopping on this issue is unreasonable. We need smart, decisive policies — not a President who is obviously completely unaware of the details of the decisions his own administration makes.

It’s time for Congress to step in to pass a permanent ban on importing ALL big game trophies to the United States — elephants, lions, and any other animal rich, greedy hunters want to bring home as proof of their murder and cruelty.

Learn about the White Spirit animals, how they urge us to conserve as many of them as we can, and their eagerness to help us withstand the Earth changes all around us. Also discussed are: Zoh’s journey into shamanic dreaming with the animals for years before she began research and wrote the book, Matata the Bonobo matriarch and her message of co-creating resilience with humankind, the Mayan Sixth Sun and how science is now calling our era the Sixth Extinction. Dreamland is about empowerment and hope, not a dark litany of hopelessness and empty warnings.

“White Spirit Animals, Prophets of Change is an important new book by J. Zohara Meyerhoff Hieronimus to help us understand the great value of these unusual animals. There are communities of these white animals found in different parts of the world that aren’t albino. They represent the special gifts of their species and are wisdom teachers to help us live in a better world. Our ecosystem needs to be more balanced and we need to provide for the full needs of the natural world where we all take care of each other. Let’s discover more of the sacredness of all of life and live in more spiritual fullness.
This is an wonderful book and my interview with Zohara will open up new awareness about the magic of the world we live in. You’ll hear how serious it is to recognize the great gifts the animal kingdom can bring us and to support the ways we can help. Tune in and get tuned in to the spiritual energies of these amazing animals.”

All white spirit animals appear for our benefit, to remind us that life on Earth is predicated on animal survival, not human exploitation and ruination of our planet and our animal kin. Considered historically as harbingers of Earth changes, the White Spirit animals are each associated with elder lore, prophecy about calamitous times and similarly share histories of collaboration with off planet elders from the Pleiades, Sirius, Alcyon, Lyra and elsewhere. I spent four years collecting stories, the science, and prophecy associated with the White Spirit mammals, whose matriarchal land cultures hold mother and child as the centerpiece of survival and proliferation. Our human society has lost this ethos of care that matriarchies embody.

White Spirit Animals

Lion – The Golden-Hearted Alchemist

No matter who we are, no matter in which part of the world we dwell, we are one. We are one with each other. We are one with the Earth. We are one with the moon, the sun, and the stars.

–Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa, Zulu Lion Shaman

In the land where trees are called “growing people” and ancestral spirits are consulted in community decisions, we meet the White Lions of Timbavati, South Africa.

Like indigenous leaders in whose homeland other White Spirit Animals are born, here too, in Africa, Zulu elders teach that there is vital significance in the appearance of the White Lions in Timbavati at this time. As with all the other White Spirit Animals, the White Spirit Lions have come to warn us of dramatic Earth changes, encouraging us to work together in these perilous times. Protecting the Earth, as Lions have protected humans throughout time, is our noble-hearted duty.

On October 15, 2017, Dr. Bob Hieronimus, Ph.D., interviewed his wife and 21st Century Radio® co-host Dr. Zohara Hieronimus, D.H.L., about her new book, White Spirit Animals: Prophets of Change, exploring shamanism, trans-species telepathy, and the animal wisdom urging us to restore an ethos of care to human society. Listen to the full interview…